Washboard.



UNITED STAS PATENT rrrcn.

WASI-IB OARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed April 6,1906. Serial No. 310.372.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALLER Soon, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Richmond, county of Henrico, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washboards, of which the following is a full and clear specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the washboard partly broken away; Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view thereof; and Fig. 3 a detail perspective of the double soap receptacle.

The object of this invention is to simplify and improve the construction of the washboard whereby it will be inexpensive in construction as well as very 1 rigid and durable.

A special object is to provide a double faced or reversible washboard and to provide each rubbing face with an efficient and simple soap receptacle so arranged that the soap will be drained and the drainage will be directed down over the rubbing surface in use for the time being, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

To the accomplishment of this object and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the parts and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which the same reference-characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing annexed by referencecharacters, a designates the wooden side-piece and b the wooden cross-bar or head-piece connecting the upper ends thereof. The rubbing-board c is constructed of a single piece of galvanized steel transversely corrugated or otherwise roughened to provide duplicate rubbing surfaces upon opposite sides; whereby the board may be reversed. The side edges of the rubbing-board are fitted into longitudinal grooves in the side members and the lower edge of the rubbingboard is curled to form a tube 01 through which is passed a rod e which connects the two side members and draws them against the side edges of the rubbingboard. A conical head is formed on one end of the rod and a conical nut is screwed on the other end of the rod, these conical parts being counter-sunk into the side members so as to be flush with their outer surfaces. The upper edge of the rubbing-board, above the corrugations is left flat at c, and this flat portion has its side edges extending up into the narrow extensions of the grooves on the side members. The space between this extension f and the top bar I; is filled in by the double-faced soap-holder, which consists of a single piece of sheet metal folded on the line 9 about midway its length, the two portions g g,

thus formed, being brought together back to back and being inserted in the narrow grooves in the upper parts of the side members. The upperfolded edge 9 extends up into a groove in the under face of the topboard and the lower edges of the plates are spread apart sufiiciently to receive between them the upward extension f of the rubbing-board. The lower edge of each of the plates is curled outwardly and upwardly and inwardly to form a gutter h extending from side member to side member, and the bottom of this gutter h is provided with a series of perforations.

It will be observed that the construction above described provides a simple yet rigid washboard of the reversible type, each rubbing face being provided with a soap holder which is so constructed that it drains down over the rubbing surface in use. The special manner of constructing the two soap holders provides an exceedingly simple construction as it is adapted to be used with a wooden top-board of the usual construction and requires only straight grooves in the side members. In order to prevent the soap holder from dropping down away from the top-board, a nail i is driven into each side member just below the shoulder j formed by narrowing the plate to bring the gutter within the side members. It will be observed also that additional nails may be driven into the side members if it be desired to fasten the'rubbingboard or the soap plate more securely in place.

A feature of importance is the use of galvanized steel for the rubbing-board. Heretofore it has been the universal custom to use zinc for this purpose as zinc does not oxidize sufficiently to soil the clothing, but these zinc rubbing faces are not rigid enough to be used without a backing of metal or wood and furthermore it is the universal experience that a zinc rubbing board breaks away at the upper edge and sags and creeps down under heavy usage. With a galvanized steel rubbing-board sufficient rigidity is obtained to'avoid the necessity of using a backing while at the same time a non-oxidizable surface is obtained. Furthermore this galvanized steel rubbing-board possesses sufficient rigidity to give to the structure the necessary strength and also permits both sides of the rubbing surface to be used.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is'. I

1. In a washbonrd, the combination of the side members,

a top-bar, a rubbing-board connecting the side members, and a double soap-receptacle constructed of a single piece of sheet metal folded over to bring its two members back to back and having its free lower edges curled outward to form gutters, these gutters being provided with water-passages, the upper edge of the rubbing-board lying between the lower edges of the folded members, and the side edges of the folded members engaging in grooves in the side members.

2. In a reversible Washboard, the combination of side memhers'a double-faced rubbiugboard therebetween, and a double-faced soapreceptacle constructed of a single piece of sheet metal folded over upon itself, the side edges of these iolded parts being engaged by the side members and the lower edge of each 01' these folded members being bent tot'orm a gutter extending across the washboard at the top of. the rubbingbonrd.

3. In a reversible washboard, the combination 01' side members, a double-faced rub-board, and a doul)lefaced soup-receptacle secured between the side members above the rubbing-board, this soap-reeeptaele being eonstrneted oi plates seeured baek to baek and havingtheir side edges engaged by the side members and their lower ttlges bent to term gutters. 15

in testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature in the presence of two witness s this 29th day of Mal-eh ifltlti.

'ALLlult Sttl'll. \\'itnesses:

l Wilmer S'rnimxs, Ruin-11:1 Kl. \Vixs'ros. 

